Thread: Headin North in April?

Who do you have flying North with the Twins this April?

I'm sticking my neck out here, but....

Pitchers
Burnett
Burton
Correia
Diamond
Duensing
Fein
Hendriks
Hernandez
Perkins
Pressly
Swarzak
Worley

Infielders/Catchers
Mauer
Morneau
Plouffe
Florimon
Dozier
Escobar
Doumit
Carroll
Butera

Outfielders
Willingham
Benson
Parmelee
Mastroianni

Initial guess, though this can change a lot based on SP performances and FA pick-ups:

SP: Diamond, Worley, Correia, Hendriks, Pelfrey
RP: Perkins, Burton, Duensing, Fien, Robertson, Burnett, Swarzak

C: Mauer
IF: Morneau, Dozier, Florimon, Plouffe
OF: Willingham, Hicks, Parmelee
DH: Doumit

BENCH: Mastro, Carroll, Butera, Escobar

Originally Posted by Nick Nelson

Initial guess, though this can change a lot based on SP performances and FA pick-ups:

SP: Diamond, Worley, Correia, Hendriks, Pelfrey
RP: Perkins, Burton, Duensing, Fien, Robertson, Burnett, Swarzak

C: Mauer
IF: Morneau, Dozier, Florimon, Plouffe
OF: Willingham, Hicks, Parmelee
DH: Doumit

BENCH: Mastro, Carroll, Butera, Escobar

Benson to AAA rather than Hicks?

The spring training battles appear to be:
1. Hendricks Dedunno DeVries and Gibson for the 5th spot in rotation likely winner in order IMO.
2. Last spot in bullpen Robertson, Pressly, Harden, Slama, Reonicke and a bunch of others. Robertson probably has the inside track but i doubt by much. Fien has a spot but a horrible spring could cost him same with Swarzak...again IMO
3. Carroll vs Dozier at 2B coin flip the other will be on the bench so this one is inconsequential.
4. Hicks vs Mastroianni in CF with Benson going for backup OF and that will be decided by Hicks

I do not know enough about the relievers to argue about pitchers. I think you are right about the starting rotation.
And I think you are exactly right on the fielders.
The only one I question is Escobar, though I guess I see no better option at this time.

People want to see Hicks, but that would be a bad idea IMHO. All in good time.

I'd swap Hernandez for Slama, and Benson for Hicks.

No Slama. Not even a spring training invite. No Hernandez. Wood and Roeinke will be given every chance to go north (shades of Maloney and Gray). I don't see the need of having Florimon and Escobar. One will play regularly in the majors, the other in the minors.


The Twins might actually bring 13 pitchers north.

I don't see Burnett going north unless he is great in ST.

Originally Posted by Rosterman

No Slama. Not even a spring training invite. No Hernandez. Wood and Roeinke will be given every chance to go north (shades of Maloney and Gray). I don't see the need of having Florimon and Escobar. One will play regularly in the majors, the other in the minors.


The Twins might actually bring 13 pitchers north.

This. Florimon for the start, Esco will bolster the Wings until Flori falters.

With all the pitching question marks, this is the first time 13 pitchers on the opening day actually makes sense to me.

Originally Posted by stringer bell

I don't see Burnett going north unless he is great in ST.

"No more scholarships!"

Or is that passe, now?

Agree with your selections mnfanforlife. Don't see Pelfrey or Gibson going north for opening day. Pelfrey won't be ready for another month or two and I see them bringing Gibson along slowely by pitching 20 innings in EST/Rochester during the first six weeks to two months. He then joins the Twins around June 1st for the rest of the year.

The only other change I see would be if they pick up one position player/bench bat (most likely someone who can play some 3B) and Escobar begins the year in Rochester.

Originally Posted by Nick Nelson

Initial guess, though this can change a lot based on SP performances and FA pick-ups:

SP: Diamond, Worley, Correia, Hendriks, Pelfrey
RP: Perkins, Burton, Duensing, Fien, Robertson, Burnett, Swarzak

C: Mauer
IF: Morneau, Dozier, Florimon, Plouffe
OF: Willingham, Hicks, Parmelee
DH: Doumit

BENCH: Mastro, Carroll, Butera, Escobar

I agree with this. This is the depth chart going in but obviously a lot can change.

Originally Posted by Nick Nelson

Initial guess, though this can change a lot based on SP performances and FA pick-ups:

SP: Diamond, Worley, Correia, Hendriks, Pelfrey
RP: Perkins, Burton, Duensing, Fien, Robertson, Burnett, Swarzak

C: Mauer
IF: Morneau, Dozier, Florimon, Plouffe
OF: Willingham, Hicks, Parmelee
DH: Doumit

BENCH: Mastro, Carroll, Butera, Escobar

Originally Posted by drjim

I agree with this. This is the depth chart going in but obviously a lot can change.

We can only hope that a lot can change with the remaining FA and waiver pick-ups. Unfortunately, Ryan gives off the impression that his work is done here and is suffering from FA-Fu mental fatigue.


Pelfrey. Still has to be a question mark in April. 50/50 that he starts out on D or goes on 30-day DL soon thereafter.

Robertson, Burnett, Swarzak. Ugggh. Besides the question marks w/ the SPs, more reasons to start out with 13 pitchers.

Hicks. First call-up.

Escobar. Why??? The Red Wings need him more than the Twins and Ryan always accedes to their needs.

Butera. Scholarships are back in vogue.

At TwinsFest, both Pelfrey and Gibson gave every indication they will be 100% healthy for the start of spring training.

Originally Posted by birdwatcher

At TwinsFest, both Pelfrey and Gibson gave every indication they will be 100% healthy for the start of spring training.

Gibson had a great rehab season in 2012 and in the AFL, but an innings-limit has already been imposed, just the question of how it's implemented.

Pelfrey would defy not only the odds, but the very Baseball Gods, if he were somehow able to hit the ground running with numbers anywhere close to his last effective season-- which was 3 years ago in 2010.

I saw the title of the thread and thought of Canadian Geese for some reason.

But back on topic, any able-bodied individual who can manage to finish the season without their leg in a brace or arm in a sling would be an upgrade.